The transparent veil

1st December 2017

Photo credit: CNN Philippines

Once more, the Catholic Mass has been used in the Philippines as a backdrop for an embattled public official to claim the moral high ground. This time it was Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (photo) who’s currently being probed by the House of Representatives Committee on Justice over an impeachment complaint lodged against her.

But while committee members try to establish whether the complaint has legs, Sereno has made an appearance on hallowed ground, This is a well-trodden path for those of the country’s political class who seek to invoke Mother Church – if not as a divine intercessor, at least to present a visual of virtue – as their secular persona takes a pasting on unhallowed ground.

It’s as if the optics of being in a holy place somehow gives irrefutable credence to the person’s righteousness and sanctitude – and thus to the weight of any words uttered by them there. The chosen stage for Sereno’s delivery – “My stand on what I am going through right now is a stand for the people and the Constitution” – was the Church of the Holy Sacrifice firmly set in Liberal Party territory; the University of the Philippines’ Diliman campus in Quezon City.

This is the same theatre used by the Liberal Party elite for the 21 September “Mass of Justice”. Taking part in that event were former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, who appointed Sereno to become the country’s top judge; Vice President Leni Robredo; failed Liberal Party presidential candidate in last year’s election, Mar Roxas; LP President, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan; Senate Minority Floor Leader, Frank Drilon; Aquino’s cousin, Senator Bam Aquino; and House Deputy Speakers, Miro Quimbo and Jose Christopher Belmonte.

For that production, the foot of the altar was adorned with photographs of victims of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos’s martial-law years, as well as those of young alleged War on Drugs victims of the current president, Rodrigo Duterte.

This, then, is Church and state in action – proving yet again that the centuries-old coupling between these two powerful institutions is as alive and well in the 21st century Philippines as it was in the 16th when Spanish friars doubled as administrators for the Crown of Spain. So that’s despite Sereno purporting to “stand for the Constitution”, complete with its separation of Church and state provision.

What this really amounts to is the Roman Catholic Church of the Philippines providing a playhouse for political scripts that particularly delight it – scripts that support its own politicking. The hard political fact here is that the Church can do business with the Liberal Party; it can’t with Duterte.

No one really doubts that the Church is in the tank for the Liberals; over the past several months its priests and bishops have been on the front line with party members at anti-government protests and demonstrations in one form or another. The pulpit has become an unapologetic soapbox for anti-Duterte rhetoric; Catholic radio stations have upped the decibels in their airwave campaign to denounce the president; pastoral letters have become political-opposition pamphlets.

Bubble-wrapped by congregants comprising friends and supporters, Sereno – a born-again Christian; not a Catholic, who back in 2012 put her appointment down to “God’s Will” – used the setting to protest her innocence and ask, rhetorically: “How will I leave [her position as chief justice] and abort my duty to the nation?” After all, she pointed out to those gathered there, she’d been given the role of highest judge in the land to “ensure justice, watch over the independence of the judiciary, care of the employees of the judiciary, and institute continuous reform at the judiciary”.

But she’d also been humbled by the public support she claims to have received. This is how she put it: “I didn’t expect that Filipinos would share my struggles … that it would be in the hearts of Filipino families” – adding for good measure, “those who stand with the truth should not be oppressed”.

According to Sereno her work is not yet done. The impeachment complaint against her alleges that she’s failed in a number of areas and – more damagingly – that she’s betrayed the public trust.

All that, however, was brushed aside. This was not about the substance of any complaint; this was about presenting an image of rectitude; honesty, decency, probity – and heroism. It was a morality play that drew on the timeless tales of women persecuted by cruel men – a recalling of St Agatha of Sicily or St Lucy of Syracuse, perhaps, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their defiance of brutal emperors in a climate of persecution more than a millennium and a half ago.

This was about martyrdom for a far more noble cause than denying charges at a Congressional hearing. This was about honour and truth and light. And it was about Duterte, a man the Liberal-Left like to depict as a modern-day Caesar – a Diocletian or a Decius.

Among the throng at the Church of the Holy Sacrifice yesterday were members of the #EveryWoman movement – the group whose ranks include actresses and socialites, that came together last year to defend suspected drugs-profiteer, Liberal Party Senator Leila De Lima, over a vulgar online video purporting to show her engaged in a sex act.

Also there was the regularly Mass-going Prayer Battalion of Truth and Justice. On 7 October, this organisation was present at another Mass – that one was being said for Aquino-appointed Ombudsman, Conchita Carpio Morales, whose been accused of “selective justice and partiality” and could be the subject of her very own impeachment complaint. It was billed as a ‘Solidarity Mass’.

Given that line up, those gathered would seem to have more on their minds than the liturgy of the Mass. It’s unlikely they all rolled up to the same Church at the same hour by coincidence. It’s unlikely, too, that they were there yesterday to celebrate the feast of St Andrew the Apostle either. This was a political gathering with a political message dressed to resemble worship.

The Morales Mass – organised by Armino Luistro, Aquino’s education secretary – was held in the car park of the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, Manila. Among the congregation there were members of the Liberal Party-heavy Tindig Pilipinas; other anti-Duterte groups, including Magdalo Party List; former Aquino-appointed head of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, Etta Rosales, and former Aquino Social Welfare secretary, Corazon “Dinky” Soliman who also made it to the Sereno Mass.

In the Philippines, churches – by design – are established locations for political shows. For one thing, they allow the bishops to play a bigger role in the affairs of state – a role they never want to relinquish. It’s all part of that age-old marriage of convenience between the ecclesiastical ruling class and the secular ruling class; a quid pro quo arrangement by which politicians get to use the setting of the Church to put out their message, while the Church promotes itself as a reliable political moderator. A moral force for principled politics.

Back in August, Andre Bautista, the former Aquino-appointed chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) – the country’s elections regulator – found himself under fire after his wife alleged he’d salted away more than PHP1 billion in unexplained wealth, an impeachment case against him had been filed and all six of his Comelec colleagues called for him to resign.

“I’m praying about what is the right course to take for my family and for the institution that we are serving now,” he told members of the press who just happened to be outside Manila Cathedral as he emerged from Mass.“Sometimes, it is not our timing but the timing of the One Above which we are looking for,” he explained.

Before her arrest in February, Leila De Lima regularly availed herself of the Church’s facility to make political appearances and rail against Duterte. She became, and remains, a cause célèbre for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the Church’s ecclesiastical authority.

And, naturally, the press was always on hand to cover her Church events. From kneeling in the CBCP chapel in Intramuros, Manila, to attending protest marches flanked by nuns, to being prayed over by her office staff just prior to her arrest – the press were always in attendance.

But here’s the problem. While the Church encourages the use of the Mass as a vehicle for political statements (at least those aligned with its own political beliefs) much of the public – the audience which the Church and their political allies are trying to influence and persuade – do not.

In fact, far from it. Such conduct repels them. To have the Church – their Church, actually – used as a theatrical prop by government ‘VIPs’ when they get into difficulties, or when they want to present a show of political strength, debases this institution to such a degree that they no longer trust its moral authority.

And in the present context, they see it as little more than a facilitator of political opposition to Duterte’s rule. So, far from reaching the people, the Church has been pushing them away. Its bishops and priests who support the Liberal Party-led resistance and obstruction to Duterte are now regarded as part of the very political elite which they rejected at the ballot box 19 months ago. This blatant subterfuge can never succeed in deceiving the people – they see right through it like a transparent veil.

Thus, while such appearances and performances play well in preaching to the converted, they have the direct opposite effect on those whom the politicos and their priestly cronies seek to convert. The people need the Church; they need the Mass; they need to receive the Holy Eucharist – they don’t need to witness political grandstanding there. And they don’t need priests to tell them how to think. They can do that for themselves. They already have. That’s what they were doing when they elected Duterte to be their nation’s leader.

Every time this priest and nuns sided to the devil the consequence a fifth (5) priest have already proceed to heaven is that not a signal from the higher up to stop meddling with the affairs of the government lahat matataas ang posisyon (RIP)

Now that she’s being probed for impeachment she will turn for refuge in a Catholic church even if she is not a Catholic to gain the support of the people and to appear as the innocent and stands for the people and the constitution for the Catholic church has the biggest number of followers. But…when all this hasn’t happened yet, was she for the people or for herself and the selected few..The church supports this selected few, the oligarchs, for they are the ones who donate in large sum not primarily for the church but for the ordained ones in the church.
The people don’t care whatever her cases may be as long as they are not the ones affected but what the people care about is the sincerity and honesty while working as public servant. If you don’t have this then it’s a betrayal of public trust already and it’s a kind of oppression with the people’s hard earned money and even the church can’t persuade the people to trust them again..

The institutions that such leaders head are needed, but not necessarily the leaders themselves for democracy to flourish. As usual they are trying to muddle the narratives, and the Church appears to be abetting the lies.

for 10 years this churchmen have studied in seminary and prestigious schools. but a very simple phrase they couldn’t understand. it is separation of state and church. such a disgrace. remember no church leaders have been put to jail, sued or being oppressed in any ways. but they reacted negatively on the belief that they are above the elected people. its really a sad story

A few hundred years ago the church had it’s own system they call upon God for a sign of innocence if it was not evident the accused was put to death…no body got a pass…that’s why we separated church from state…best to stay out of the government’s business if we reinstate the old system it’s not going to be prity

Tama .. look what happen in middle east especially muslim country run by religion not by state they are in constant war and destabilize just like us na nakialam sila during marcos time until the succeeding regimes kaya wala parin sign of better govt improvement. Wag sana padala mga Catholic followers to be blinded at maging true believers.

There is a saying “if you are in extreme distress you will call on Jesus and all His saints”…err.. even if you are not a catholic christian. I won’t wonder if she will call on Allah. Paging Bro. Robin you have a prospect proselyte. Help please.

FYI Jesus was not a Catholic!!! Good that God heard his prayers!! Also mama Mary was not a Catholic (good that God heard her prayers)! For all of you who are obviously WITHOUT SIN to pass judgement on Sereno without hearing all of the evidence!! (Shame on you) judge not that ye shall not be judged!!!

Lolita thank you so much for your reply! Of course I realize you are commenting about your personal experience! (How can you know what is the hearts and minds of others?) But it seams everyone comes to God only after we need him most! Thanks to God for being there for us at that time!!!

The truth will set a person free but if a person hides the truth and engage in lying and deception to avoid incarceration , even if he is not jailed or penalized, he/she will forever be a prisoner of his/her conscience.

Jimmy…l opened the post to comment and you had already said it….this is the problem with many involved in these scams….they only care about them selves and in many cases steal from the most unfortunate

Ang problema dyan the catholic church itself is fast losing credibility itself because its leaders chose to takes sides with a hated and discredited party. And it has let its pulpits be used for hatred against a leader so loved and supported everwhelmingly by a majority of the citizenry.

There you are again nuns,even they knew it’s a crooked Chief Justice they will protect it,how come you’re receiving holy communion with the burden of lies in your conciense.stupid Catholic nuns & priest,you’re making the nations divided.

There is no need to run to any religious sect. The people know the moro-moro of Congress and they support the Chief Justice because all the issues raised against her are trumpped up issues. And the witnesses are all having personal interests.

A power struggle between the chruch and the state. Let it be abuse so that we could settle it to the next level. People change the system will change. Let’s put it to the limits of cold war. Again and again to test their strength

And now the end is near & so I face the final curtain! Welcome to the Club (that’s what Andy said when he was being pursued). Conchita, you’re next! CJ thinks the best excorcist is Padre Damaso of CBCP, you’re wrong Madam!

Sereno does not deserve even to be addressed as Your Honor! She violated the provision of the Rules of Court that if the case whether judicial or administrative is being heard, there should be no discussion of the same publicly. She is discussing and arguing her case with the press. Unethical, this is even a ground for disbarment.

The catholic church since the 3rd century has become the richest corporation in the world,and has contributed to keeping poverty flowing by not allowing birth control! Why no birth control? Because of donations,and as long as people are so poor because they have too many kids to feed,they turn to the church ! Visious circle

So much drama why not just step down and give the justice system a chance to speed up cases..You are not an actress of any melodrama segments.. Let this gov’t. fix the so many problems of our country in this new era where righteous public servants are selflessly serving for the love of our country and people..

Did you not participate in removal of CJ Corona the way you are being remove now? Shame on you. You and your party brought your corruption to the sanctity of Catholic church that is now under the verge of its destruction.

ITS ALWAYS THE SAME SCENARIO…..WHEN CORRUPT AND PLUNDERES ARE ACCUSED OF WRONG DOING THEY ABUSIVELY USE THE CHURCH AS THEIR BACKDROP TO PORTRAY THEMSELVES AS GOD FEARING…..CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES DON’T BE FOOLED BY THIS HYPOCRICY…..ONLY PEOPLE WITH SICK MINDS AND EVIL INTENTIONS HAS THE NERVE TO USE THE CHURCH FOR THEIR EVIL AGENDA…..BEWARE !!!!!!! OF THE.DEVIL IN SHEEP’S.CLOTHING…………

I like this qoute from the article -“And they don’t need priests to tell them how to think. They can do that for themselves. They already have. That’s what they were doing when they elected Duterte to be their nation’s leader.”

Sorry for you Sereno, we’re not the OLD SCHOOL CATHOLICS that beleive in our clergy hook , line and sinker. We are wiser than our parents that treat priests like Saints. #IBANAANGCATHOLICONGAYON. #BAYANMUNABAGOEKEK

“The Catholic Church is not for the faithful only, but for everyone. Our responsibility does not end by motivating people to follow God’s will, but will also accept them for what they are. We will not only listen to their concerns but also to view issues in every aspect.” Valles said in a statement. Meanwhile, below are 5 major changes in the CBCP to be expected under his leadership.

#1 The Catholic Church will do some ‘internal cleansing’

“We accept the fact that there are some abusive priests, and we will not tolerate them.” Valles added. And although he did not elaborate further, an insider from the CBCP told us here at Philippine News Courier that a new set of guidelines on how to monitor the activities of priests shall be implemented soon. And this time, investigations will be faster.

#2 Catholic Church to have a more transparent financial statement

Just like the Vatican, the Catholic Church also regularly releases its financial statement. This includes investments in private corporations, banks, and institutions, and well as ground tax exemptions. But starting 2018, the CBCP is expected to be more transparent so that even ordinary people will have a better understanding on where their donations go.

#3 CBCP will embrace the LGBT community

The Catholic Church is never expected to allow same-sex marriage. But under Valle’s leadership, it will “embrace” the LGBT community. This means that it will not condemn gays, lesbians and transgenders for their personal decisions. Instead, it will focus on their actions in the society, primarily as civic group leaders, health advocates, and politicians.

#4 CBCP will not mingle with politicians, including President Duterte

Starting today, the CBCP will not mingle with any politician, including President Rodrigo Duterte. As we all know, CBCP President Valles is a good friend of the Duterte family. However, he earlier said it is personal and not political. Valles vows not to bias against Duterte nor support him, but rather will be fair and balance in every social issue.

#5 Priests and nuns will not be allowed to join political rallies

Finally, priests and nuns will no longer be allowed to join political rallies. And although they will still enjoy their freedom of speech, they will only be allowed to join rallies as long as it is not against or supporting any politician, and will not go side by side with militant groups. If they have concerns on some social issues, they should focus only on the issue, nothing else.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that Archbishop Valles was the CBCP vice president before he was elected as president last July, together with Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David as his vice president. His term will end on November 30, 2019, but can be elected again for another 2 years. By tradition, incumbent CBCP officials serve two terms, or 4 years.

The Catholic Church should focus on spiritual reforms and initiatives. This is the reason why many doesnt go to church anymore… The priests are becoming politicians. The should be involved in grass roots program to bring back to the fold those who are misguided… look at them just building beautiful churches and not mindful of the poor around them high on drugs.. May God Bless us all.

She joins the many hypocrites described in the Holy Bible. Hypocrites always trumpet before the public their religiosity, knell and pray where everyone could see and even show their silver penance.
But the Lord admonishes us that when we pray, go to a private place and talk to Him in prayer. After all God knows your heart even before you open it in prayer.

Can somebody make a timeline on the SOP of these yellow peeps?? Kasi lahat sila parang goes thru the same list of things to do… delima baustista cj sereno has pictures of being in the church being supported by priests and pictures of kneeling in church…

Now, OPENLY, the Catholic church is, again and again, breaking the Constitutional law of the SEPARATION OF STATE AND CHURCH—and all in the name of THEIR god! If the church should claim that it is the politician who seeks their help—IT IS THEN, ALSO THE POLITICIAN BREAKING THE LAW using the church for their political agenda!!!!!!

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